Why go aluminum?

[TruculentTucan]

ok, it seems to be the new craze, and I was wondering what the real advantages of it were for someone who doesn't tote their case around a lot. They seem really expensive and don't seem to offer much different then regular cases. Is this true or am I dumb and just missing something?

 

[oblivion2888]

coolness factor

 

[GundamF91]

it really doesn't cool your temp...maybe 1c at most. its' mostly for cool looking. also light weight.

 

[Anaconda]

yes all i want is that light weight for my brother, cuz hes gonna have to drag that computer to his college in San Diego.

 

[diehlr]

Just another thought, but wouldn't aluminum be acoustically different than your typical metal case? I would think aluminum would be a little more rigid and thus less prone to vibration / amplifying noise from internal parts. So, is it possible that an aluminum case would be quieter than a normal metal case, all other things equal?

 

[Muerto]

Actually aluminum is softer than steel. But I don't know if it would reduce noise by a noticeable amount. If your rig is loaded down with fans it's gonna be loud.

 

[damocles]

Actually - if anything Aluminium would be noisier

Mikhail noted that the Lian Li had a tendency to vibrate

link

 

[Atlantean]

it looks pretty

 

[GundamF91]

The Lian Li is louder than other steel ones, ie Antec. They're more flimsy due to aluminum's nature. also they get scratches pretty easily, and can really ruin the "pretty face".

 

[Xp]

I'm not an Aluminum case user, but I've seen somewhere that says: Aluminum has better thermal dissipation than steel, so it will be cooler. Most heatsinks are made of Aluminum.

 

[chinman75]

simply not worth it

 

[TruculentTucan]

thanks guys, that's exactly what i thought

 

[Techru]

Seems that most people saying that "it's just not worth it" and "it won't cool much better than a steel case" are the same people that do not own an aluminum case? Don't you find that somewhat odd?

 

[moorehed]

no, if i payed $200 for an alluminum case i wouldnt admit if it didnt do a damn either.

 

[LASHER555ZX]

$200 FOR PC60 LIAN LI UR JOKING RIGHT? I use a INWIN Q500n for $100 and spent only $30 on 3-80mm and 92&120mm i scavenged off an old server that my job was just throwing out. I got "EL NINO" trapped in my box now COOLING everything. Those cases "VIBRATE" when u start adding fans or modifying the case. Oh and don't bump into anything with that box.


P!!!800@1GHZ
OCZ GLADIATOR/DELTA/ASII/PVC DUCT

 

[TuffGuy]

1) yes, they are ridiculously expensive
2) they tend to cool a bit better. that might not be noticed by regular users, but it can make a difference when overclocking. of course that can be overcome through the use of lots of fans, or by not overclocking, but...

 

[GundamF91]

anyhow, if you have the money, get it then, it's ur choice.

but for all practicality, it's not worth whatever cooling advantage it might bring. I've read reviews after reviews about how it doesn't cool more than 1-5c even in the best conditions. That's not much, considering the price, or what you can do with just a couple more fans.

Lightweight is one DEFINITE advantage, but that's about it....if you lug it around all day.

Also it's cool to look at...for the first month I guess. and there were a couple of reviews about how easily it gets scratched. not so pretty then.

The ones here that dont own a aluminum case, including me, have done researches about it, and that's why we've decided against it.

 

[ace31216]

It's just personal peference. It looks nice and is cool to the touch.